Shounter Valley, a sub valley of upper Neelum Valley in Azad Kashmir, offers one of the region's most rewarding high altitude lake excursions, remote, and only accessible for a few months each year.
Shounter Lake: Sitting at roughly 3,100m (10,200 ft), this glacier fed lake is sometimes called "Spoon Lake" for its distinctive shape, encircled by snow capped mountains and scattered wildflowers including Iris hookeriana in summer.
Getting there: Reached exclusively by jeep from Kel, a journey of roughly 3 hours along a track that only opens for a few months each summer once snowmelt clears the route, this is not a year round destination.
Shounter Pass: Beyond the lake, the valley continues to Shounter Pass, at roughly 14,500 feet, connecting Azad Kashmir to Rattu village in Astore, Gilgit Baltistan, a serious, technically demanding route reportedly best left to experienced, well prepared travelers rather than a standard excursion.
What to expect: No hotels or restaurants exist anywhere in the valley, camping is the only way to stay overnight, and visitors should bring all food and gear from Kel.
Best time to visit: May through August, when the jeep track is passable, outside this window the route is snow blocked and inaccessible.
See our Kel destination guide for how Shounter Valley combines with Ratti Gali Lake on a wider upper Neelum itinerary.
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